New Women's Head Coach

[tornado]

I know of one person who "applied" and who was told he was a top candidate, and someone else on a different board says he knows of two others...
so those names are known - just not known openly but the process did not use a search firm (as the men's process did)...and the interviews and decision making was done very confidentially and not much was ever noted in the media.

[DUBrave5]

I know of one person who "applied" and who was told he was a top candidate, and someone else on a different board says he knows of two others...
so those names are known - just not known openly but the process did not use a search firm (as the men's process did)...and the interviews and decision making was done very confidentially and not much was ever noted in the media.

Women's college basketball is not Men's college basketball. Most people couldn't care less about women's basketball unless you are Tennessee, UCONN, Baylor, etc. Even if the other candidates names were out there, it wouldn't have made a difference because no one would care.

Why can't we just accept the fact that Bradley hired who they thought was best and let it end there? Why is the need to question who was hired? Unless you were sitting in on the interviews then you wouldn't actually know what happened for them to hire Brooks. Leave it be.

[Buesch N Chips]

Women's college basketball is not Men's college basketball. Most people couldn't care less about women's basketball unless you are Tennessee, UCONN, Baylor, etc. Even if the other candidates names were out there, it wouldn't have made a difference because no one would care.

Why can't we just accept the fact that Bradley hired who they thought was best and let it end there? Why is the need to question who was hired? Unless you were sitting in on the interviews then you wouldn't actually know what happened for them to hire Brooks. Leave it be.

I think the discussion centers around the administration seemingly changing their general hiring philosophy with the hire. Perfectly legitimate discussion topic. Seems like some people are being abnormally defensive.

[Old Coach]

My 2 cents is that time of the year was a significant part of the issue. As I understand it, from a pretty good source, current head coaches were very sensitive to the fact that it was July and didn't want their names attached to the job if they weren't going to get it.

[tornado]

Personally I like the concept of promoting from within -- many of the big schools do it - so if we have good people hired then why not keep them, develop them, and promote them?
BUT -- for the sake of MB then just do it right away and make it clear he was the slam dunk favorite...

Now there are a couple NCAA job postings for assistant coaches for Mike Brooks...

http://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/4837433/assistant-women-s-basketball-coach

http://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/4837421/director-of-women-s-basketball-operations

Actually - there are almost zero D-I positions open and hiring at this late phase -- other than those for BU - here's one of the only other D-I spots hiring...

http://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/4829787/assistant-coach-men-s-basketball

Missouri State is seeking an assistant men's coach to replace Kyle Smithpeters who left to take over as head coach of John A. Logan College (juco)

[Braves4Life]

Actually - there are almost zero D-I positions open and hiring at this late phase -- other than those for BU - here's one of the only other D-I spots hiring...

http://ncaamarket.ncaa.org/jobs/4829787/assistant-coach-men-s-basketball

Of course. How many other D1 programs -- men's or women's -- had their head coach skip out on them in the middle of the summer? Kudos to BU for filling this position quickly and from within. I think all parties benefited from this parting. I'm sure the assistant positions will be filled in an expedient fashion as well. I look forward to seeing if this long over due move pays dividends. I think BU got their man in Brooks... Good luck!

[Da Coach]

Of course. How many other D1 programs -- men's or women's -- had their head coach skip out on them in the middle of the summer?

With all due respect, this is a highly inaccurate characterization of what happened.

[Braves4Life]

With all due respect, this is a highly inaccurate characterization of what happened.

It is the characterization that has been put forth. Is it not? So, how would YOU characterize it Da Coach?

[Da Coach]

...had their head coach skip out on them in the middle of the summer?

It is the characterization that has been put forth

No, I do not agree. Your statements are not completely accurate.
You statement suggests that Paula was secretly making arrangements to take another job, and then surprised Bradley by quitting without any forewarning. Not true.

It has been reported that Paula's contract was not going to be renewed, and she was encouraged to seek jobs elsewhere. Since she was under contract to Bradley, she could not have been seeking or applying for other jobs unless she was allowed to by her employer.

Seems to me that if the employer allows and encourages her to seek other jobs, and informs her that she will not be retained, then it is not accurate to say that Bradley "had their head coach skip out on them in the middle of the summer".

I also have heard from reliable sources that Bradley had been in contact with other coaches and was soliciting applications for the potential opening of the women's head coaching job months before the SIU-E job opened, or Paula ever had any contact with SIU-E or anyone else.

[Braves4Life]

Thanks for the clarification DC. You're certainly closer to the situation than I.

[SFP]

No, I do not agree. Your statements are not completely accurate.
You statement suggests that Paula was secretly making arrangements to take another job, and then surprised Bradley by quitting without any forewarning. Not true.

It has been reported that Paula's contract was not going to be renewed, and she was encouraged to seek jobs elsewhere. Since she was under contract to Bradley, she could not have been seeking or applying for other jobs unless she was allowed to by her employer.

Seems to me that if the employer allows and encourages her to seek other jobs, and informs her that she will not be retained, then it is not accurate to say that Bradley "had their head coach skip out on them in the middle of the summer".

I also have heard from reliable sources that Bradley had been in contact with other coaches and was soliciting applications for the potential opening of the women's head coaching job months before the SIU-E job opened, or Paula ever had any contact with SIU-E or anyone else.

If true and Paula knew at that time that this was the case then I believe BU athletic department did a decent job. I have no idea what our new coaches qualification is but I wish him luck. Let's face it the women's program does not have the same visibility as the men's or close to the budget so it should be treated differently IMO. That's just how the real world works.

[ColBill60]

Support for Coach Brooks and the Women's Program

Good exchange of views, but I would like to pose a question and solicit a response from all of you.
What have you done to show your support to Coach Brooks and the team?
Our new coach needs to know that we are collectively behind him and his efforts to lead the Lady Braves to greater successes on and off the court.

[Da Coach]

I am in agreement with ColBill60- we need to support Coach Brooks and the women's team. Let's hope we can set some attendance records next season. I am looking forward to it.

[tornado]

when Geno was hired they had several community events and people could meet him - I hope they do the same for Mike

[tornado]

..
Missouri State is seeking an assistant men's coach to replace Kyle Smithpeters who left to take over as head coach of John A. Logan College (juco)

Missouri State hires new assistant coach...
Derrick Tilmon - an ex-Saluki who was at University of Southern Indiana

http://www.missouristatebears.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/071312aaa.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed